johnson



4 Sheets--Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

P. R. 86 P. G. JOHNSON.

HYDRAULIC AIR PUMP.

Patented Feb Ill/l/E/VTORS WITNESSES:

N. PETERS Plmto-Lithugrapher. Washmgton. 0.0.

4 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

I. R. 85 P. G. JOHNSON.

HYDRAULIU AIR PUMP.

,405. Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

WITNESSES:

4 Sheets-Sheet '3.

(No Model.)

P. R. & F. G. JOHNSON.

HYDRAULIC AIR PUMP.

Patented Feb. 26

INVENTOHS WITNESSES:

N. PCTEHS. Phnlo-Lilllographen Washinglull. n. c.

4 SheetsSheet 4.

(No Model.)

F. R. 82; F. G. JOHNSON,

HYDRAULIC AIR PUMP.

'Patente d Feb. 26, 1889.

ZV//// m/ INVENTO/M,

gwlmmsm:

N. PETERS, Phnloiflhagrupher. Washington, 0. a

A UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE...

FRANK READ JOHNSON AND FRANK G. JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIR-PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,405, dated February 26, 1889.

Application filed March 12, 1888. Serial No. 266,930- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK READ Joan son and FRANK G. JOHNSON, citizens of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in l lydraul ic Air-Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

Itis well known that there are many streams of water, both large and small, which, within a reasonable distance, have a descent to afford a sufficient fallor head for supplying valuable motive power, where, nevertheless, in many instances it is impossible with the'usual 5 means to utilize the descent of the stream at any one point of its course, because of the unfavorable conformation of the surrounding land and want of any natural perpendicular fall or feasible situation to provide for an artificial one, or the digging of a necessary canal.

-Our invention relates to a device by means of which it is rendered practicable to utilize as a motive power the more or less rapid de scent of water in such case.

The utility of our invention will depend, of course, upon having the water confined in a tube or tubes and of sufficient head to compress the air to that degree that it (the air) in seeking its equilibrium of expansion will exert an expansive force sufficient to practicallyoperate the ordinary engine as operated by steam, say, from fortylive pounds and upward to the square inch.

The general construction of our device is as follows: \Ve erect a perpendicular tube closed at the bottom and open at the top to be as high as the head of water employedsay not less than about one hundred and ten feetand to be kept filled with water, and near to and connected with it another tube, less in diameter and relatively but a few feet high, closed at the bottom and provided at the top with check-valves, through which compressed air can pass out, but cannot return. The two tubes are so joined together at the bottom that water can be admitted to pass from the former to the latter and press the contained air before and above it up through the said valves into proper receiving and distributing pipes. By a suitable double working-valve placed in the water-way between the two tubes the water is cut olf from the former tube and that in the latter tube al lowed to run out, and air again 10 take its place, coming through an automatic workingvalve provided for the purpose.

We will now give a more detailed description of the several parts of our device and the function each part of the same performs, and a more extended and complete description and explanation of the operation of our invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, consisting of four sheets, in which Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section, the line y y corresponding to the line m 00 in Fig.

2; Fig. 2, a plan view, seen on the line y 'y of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan view of check-valves; Fig. i, an end view of a friction-roller twoway water cook or gate; Fig. 5, a plan view showing the method of connecting the watercylinder to a series of condensing-cylinders; Fig. 6, an enlarged view of a valve to admit airinto the condensing-cylinder; and Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are enlarged detailed illustrations of the oscillating water-engine F, and which will be hereinafter explained.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A A A is an iron cylinder closed at thebottom and standing perpendicularly upon a solid foundation, the top of which is open and more or less enlarged to serve as a small reservoir. The diameter of this cylinder may be from a few inches to eight feet or more, according to the supply of water to be utilized, and its height a little more than the head of water that supplies itsay, from one hundred to any number of feet, according to the available head of water with which it is to be supplied. This cylinder (which, for convenience, we will term the water-pressure cylinder) is to be kept constantly filled with water from the supply-pipe A, which may connect with it at any convenientpoint.

B B is a large air-chamber placed centrally within the water-pressure cylinder A, and bolted to slight elevations on the bottom to connect it (the air-chamber) with the water in the saidcylinder, to relieve the same from strain whenever the movement of the descending column of water within is suddenly checked, the cylinder A being a little larger surrounds the air-chamber than i seen, and its diameter something less than that of the cylinder A. At the bottom and upon one side only of this-cylinder G G, (which .we will term the air-condensing cylinder,) is provided with a rectangular opening, C C, which in size and shape and horizontal position exactly corresponds to the similar openings, C C O, of the WfilJQPPIGSSUlG cylinder A.

D D is a rotary double-acting Watergate, which we will term the rotary water-gate.

This Water-gate is placed between and respectively bolted to the flanges of the rectangular opening C of the condensing-cylinder G G and one of the similar rectangular openings, C,of the cylinder A, and constitutes 0 the water communication between the two said cylinders. This rotary water-gate D D is automatically operated to cut off and let on the flow of water from the cylinder A to the I con(lensing-cylinder G, as also to allow the 3 5 water to flow out of the condenser; and it (the water-gate) consists of a round solid cylinder of iron, E, of a diameter equal to about twothirds of its length, ineased in a stron shell of corresponding shape, and provided with gudgeons extending beyond their bearings,

and upon both of which are fastened opcrating cranks or leversf f, Figs. 1, 2, and 4-, with which the gate is worked. l.hrough the solid gate-cylinder is cast a horizontal opening, E, 4 5 (somewhat curved in its cross-direction,) about four times as long as it is wide, and divided into four parts by cross-braces. The lower portion of the said solid gate-cylinder is cut away, as shown by c, Fig. l, to form an outlet of the water from the condensing-cylinder G. This rotary Watergate, as shown in Fig. 1, is in the position which cuts off the flow of water from the cylinder A to the cylinder G, and which also allows the water to .tlow out of the eondensing-cylinder G. hen the water has passed out of the condenser, the water-gate cylinder is rotated, (by means of the levers f f,), so as to bring the horizontal opening 6 through it in range with the rectangular 6o openings G and C, which completes the water-passage from the cylinder A to the condenser G, as will be seen in Fig. 1.

As-this rotary water-gate in the event of 3 its being acted upon, by a head of water of two or three hundred feet would be submitted to great pressure, it is provided with large anti-friction rollers cl (1 6?, Figs. 2 and 4, and

with powerful means of working it and removing the strain from its gudgeons proper,

which are employed chiefly for the attachment of the levers f f, as will be seen in Figs. 2 and 4, where it is shown that the anti-friction rollers d d d are recessed into the solid gate-cylinder at a distance from and on a larger diameter than the gudgeons proper.

The power employed to operate the watergate D D is derived from the head of water within the cylinder A, which actuates the es cillating water-engine F, (shown in Fig. 1,) the piston-rod of which is connected with and acts upon the levers or cranks f f, the said water-engine being held in position by suitable frame-work placed between and secured to the cylinders A and G, as seen in Fig. 1. The water from the cylinder A is conveyed to the said oscillating engine F through the small pipe at and controlled by the cock a, Fig. 1. The construction, and operation of this water-engine F is illustrated by Figs. .7, 8, 9, and 10, in which the piston of the engine stands in the same position as it does in Fig. 1, which is in the position to cut off the flow of water from the cylinder A to the cylinder G.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the engine F on the line .2 z of Fig. 8. S is a View of the same, looking downward. Fig. 9 is a horizontal enlarged section on the line 2 z of Fig. 10, and Fig. 10 a transverse section to show the construction of the valves of the said engine.

F F are two (one on either side of the cylinder of the engine F) cylindrical partiallyrotating chambers, which respectively communicate alternately with the ends of the cylinder of the engine F by means of suitable chann el-ways, r r p 13', cast upon the outside of two opposite sides of the same. These chambers F F are inclosed, practically watertight within shells 'l 'l of similar shape, upon the outside olf which is a projecting opening and through which passes a projection, T,.ot' the chambers F F. Between the projections of the chambers and. the shells is provided the ordinary stulling box to make the (Oll nections between the two water-tight. Upon the projection of the chambers is fastened the operating-cranks g g. (Seen also in Fig. 1, where the engine F placed in its working position.) The chambers F F are supplied with water from the \vaterwessure cylinder A by the pipe (1., (also seen in Fig. 1,) bifurcated to enter cit-her side the engine, as shown in Fig. 7. Each of the chambers F F is provided with a simple round or any other shaped opening that communicates through the said channel-ways with the ends of the cylinder of the engine F, as seen at l: and r. Upon the opposite sides of these chambers is provided a port-opening, p p", for the escape of the water through said channel-ways from the opposite ends of the cylinder of the engine F. These port-openings are made by a recess, '0 Figs. 8, 9, and 10, on the outside of the chamberF F. The operation of this engine F to automatically work the water-gate D is as follows: The piston a", as seen in Figs. 1, 7, and 8, stands wit-h the water pressing on the pistonrod side, which will hold the water-gate D in the closed condition as to the water-pressure cylinder A, Fig. 1, until the valve-cranks g g are moved by the connecting-rod h, Figs. 1 and 8. 7

As represented in the drawings, the water flows from the chambers F F (on the lefthand side of the engine F) through the valve 1)? and channel r into the cylinder of the engine, as seen in Fig. 3, and the water on the other side of the piston to passes through the channel and the port 12 Fig. 7, while on the right-hand side the valve r and port 12 are closed. If now the levers g g be moved, the valve 1: and port 19? will be closed and the valve v and port 1] will be opened, which will press the piston a" to the opposite end of the cylinder of the engine F and open the water-gate D as to the cylinder A and close it as to the condensing-cylinder G.

To render the flow of water into and out of the condensing-cylinder G automatic, the valves of the Water-engine F are worked and the engine reversed by connecting the val velevers g of the engine with the movement of the water in the condensingcylinder G in the manner as follows: A rod, I I, extending from a short distance below and up through the bottom of the condensing-cylinder, and held by and workingin a socket at the top of said cylinder, is provided at the bottom below the cylinder with a collar, 2 and at the bottom within the cylinder a collar, 2 and near the top of the rod I I a collar, 2 To the collar "11. is connected the short arm of the lever in, having the fulcrum at the point I, and the long arm of the said lever joined to the vertical coni'iecting-rods j j, which are connected with an d actuate the right-angle lever 1 which operates the connecting-rod h, that controls the valve-levers g of the engine F. The rod I I within the con(lensing-cylinder is actuated by the float H. The float, havinganiple clear ance around the rod and within the cylinder, is free to rise an d fall with the ingress and. egress of the water into and out of the cylinder. \Vhen the con(lensing-cylinder fills up with water, so the float H strikes the collar i, it lifts the lever 7tsufliciently and quick enough to reverse the action of the engine F, which, when reversed independently and bya force independent of the water in the condensing-cylinder G, reverses the water-gate D and rotates it sufficiently to fully cut off the flow of water from the cylinder A and to fully open the outlet for the free escape of the water from the condensingcylinder G. \Vhen the water is thus discharged from the condenser, the float (coming down on the surface of the water) will come in contact with the collard", and by the force of its weight move the rod I I downward, which, as above explained, will reverse the action of the engine F, and which, when reversed independently, rotates and reverses thc water-gate D to refill the condenser G and close its outlet e.

As the water flows from the water-pressure cylinder A into the condensing-cylinder G, it compresses and drives the contained air up before it through the four checlcvalves J J, Figs. 1 and 3, into a suitable system of re eeiving and distributing pipes in whatever direction and to whatever distance may be de sired. 0 0 is a strong plate bolted between the top of the condenser G and the bottom of the receiving-pipes,and furnishes the seat of the valves J J, j j being the stems of the said valves.

To admit air into the condenser G, and so cause the water to be freely discharged therefrom, and to refill the condenser with air for compression, a suitable air-valve, m, Figs. 1 and 6, is provided at the top of the condenser. This valve is so constructed that it can be in serted into and fastened from without the condenser, as shown best by Fig. 6, in which 0' 0 and o" o" are cross-bars on a short cyl-.

inder having a circular projection, q q, under which projection is suitable packing, p p, the seat of the valve being the inner end of the short cylinder, the valve-disk m being mounted on the stem a and held gently against its seat by the spiral spring m.

The small pipe it, one branch, 71, of which opens inside of the condenser G, and the other, 11", outside of the same, is for the purpose of dashing a spray of cold water (taken from the cylinder A) inside and upon and outside of the condenser G for the purpose of absorbing and diminishing the heat set free by the condensation of the air within.

Fig. 5 illustrates the method of arranging several condensers around and in connection with one common water-pressure cylinder and how the lower section of the cylinder A may be originally arranged for attaching one after another of the condensers G from time to time as they may be needed.

p The relative height of the water-pressure cylinder A and the condensing-cylinder G such that the head of water in the cylinder A above the top of the cylinder G must afford a pressure to the square inch equal to the pressure per square inch required to work various engines such as are now propelled by steam say not less than forty-five pounds, an d from this to one hundred and twenty or more pounds to the square inch. To provide said forty-five pounds to the inch, the head of water above the top of the condenser G would need to be equal to three atmospheres or a vertical height of one hundred feet, allowing thirty-three and a third feet as equal to fifteen pounds pressure to the square inch.

Of course it is not indispensable that the water-pressure cylinder should stand in a vertical line, as it may be placed more or less horizontally and extend for miles, provided in the course of its extent it supplies the con-,.

denser G with the required vertical head of water, yet for several reasons a perpendicin IIO lar column of water contained. in a vertical cylinder, as shown and described, is preferable, first, to maintain near to the condenser the same constant head, notwithstanding the condensers may momentarily consume more water than can be delivered by the supplycylinder A, its height is limited only by the height of the head of the water employed and the required pressure to the square inch of the condensed air. For example, suppose the head of water to be three hundred an d twenty feet and the required pressure of the condensed air to be one hundred and twelve pounds to the square inch. Then in this case the condenser G could be seventy feet high. Having so fully described the several parts of our device and their relation to each other and the work that each respectively performs, only the following brief general description of the operation of'our invention is needed.

Supposing the whole apparatus, as seen in Fig. 1, to be at rest and the water-pressure cylinder A to be a hundred feet or more in height and full (and kept full) of water, and the condensing-cylinder G to be filled with air and of suitable height, then to set the device in motion and keep it automatically at work it is only necessary to turn the small cook a, which allows the pressure of water from the cylinder A to act upon the pistonhead of the engine F, which will open the water-gate D and allow the water to flow from the cylinder A into the condenser G, and as the water rises in the cylinder G it drives before it and condenses the contained air and forces it (the condensed air) up through the check-valves J J and when the airin the condenser is so condensed and driven through the said valves into receiving and distributing pipes above and beyond the water will have carried the float H on its surface up to and operated upon the collar t" and raised the rod I, and so (by the means shown in the drawings and heretofore described) reversed the valve of the engine F, which in turn will reverse the water-gate D, cutting off the water from the cylinder A and opening the passage e and allow the water to escape from the condensing-cylinder G, and when the float H (descending as the water lowers) comes in contact with and by its weight strikes the collar t it Will move the rod I downward, and so reverse the valve of the engine F,

which in turn will reverse the water-gate D and allow the water to refill the condenser G, and so on until the water is cut off from the engine F by closing the cook a.

We do not limit ourselves necessarily to the exact arrangement described and shownin the drawings for connecting the rod I I to the valve-lever g of the engine F, whereby the movement of the said rod acts upon and opens the valve of the engine, as the connection between these (the rod I I and lever can be variously arranged. The importance and value of which are not to be overlooked is the relatively very small pipes 02 n n", which constantly supply from the cylinder A a spray of cold water within and a perpetual shower without, and upon the condenser G and upon the immediate portion of the receiving-pipes above for the important purpose of absorbing and diminishing the heat set free by the condensation of the air, which diminution of heat facilitates the condensation to the extent which it (the heat) isso absorbed.

\Ve are aware that hydropneumatic engines have been made for condensing air for mechanical purposes by means of water being forced by its head into the lower end of a cylinder. Therefore we do not claim, broadly, a device for condensing air by means of a head of Water irrespective of the special manner of constructing such device for such a purpose; but

What we do claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An air-condensing apparatus consisting of the water-pressure cylinder A, condensingcylinder G, and rotary water-gate D, in combination with the water-engine F, connected by pipe with cylinder A, float H, and connections, as described, with engine F, whereby the said water-gate is actuated by the press ure of water Within the cylinder A independently of the simultaneous flow of water through the gate D, and the said engine and gate are auomatically operated by the rise and fall of the water, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. An air-condensing apparatus consisting of the water-pressure cylinder A, condensingcylinder G, and rotary water-gate D, in combination with the water-engine F, connected by pipe with cylinder A, float H, and connections, as described, with engine F and rod I, having the collars z'" and 71", whereby the rise and fall of the waterin the condenserautomatically operates the valves of the engine F and water-gate D, substantiallyin the manner and for the purposes described.

FRANK READ JOHNSON. FRANK G. JOHNSON.

Vitnesses:

HORACE G. LANSING, O. W. REED. 

